AUSTIN, Texas—Today, Texas Land Commissioner Dawn Buckingham, M.D., is proud to close out the Texas General Land Office's (GLO) 2025 Summer Internship Program. During June and July, student interns from universities across Texas dedicated their time and skills to supporting several departments in the GLO. They took on challenges and gained real-world experience in their chosen fields while helping the GLO build a better future for Texas.
"In my many roles as a mother, Land Commissioner, and steward of the Permanent School Fund, I am relentless in my mission to ensure that supporting education is a top priority here in Texas," said Commissioner Buckingham. "This year, we presented our summer interns with more hands-on work experiences and opportunities to grow their professional skills than ever before. They were consistently challenged to expand their education in an environment where they could thrive, and they met those demands with skill and confidence. I thank each of our outstanding interns for their hard work and dedication to serving the people of Texas and look forward to the promise of next summer."
Commissioner Dawn Buckingham with the GLO's 2025 Summer Interns
Before completing their internships, several of these incredible students shared their thoughts on their summer at the GLO:
Ellie Alford: Communications
“My time at the GLO was such a blessing! I worked with passionate people, developed significant skills, and was part of a meaningful mission. I learned something new every day and was continually wowed by the incredible humans I worked alongside- all signs of an excellent job! I grew to better understand and deeply appreciate the mission of the Texas General Land Office and am thankful for the many invaluable lessons I will surely lean on as I move forward in life.
Nifemi Bankole: Asset Management
“The most rewarding part of my internship was being able to contribute to a positive cause like the Permanent School Fund (PSF). Knowing that the work of Asset Management directly impacted Texas education was deeply valuable. I learned about the inner workings of real estate, seeing the importance of various classes and the diversification of portfolios. It was neat knowing something small I did as an intern had a sizable impact on funding educational developments and the state.”
Daniel Butler: Coastal
“It was interesting to see firsthand how the State of Texas takes care of its coastal environments. My perspective was changed seeing the amount of work that goes into caring for the Gulf and surrounding state lands. Everyone I worked with was super kind and willing to help teach me about what they do for the agency.”
Kellan McGinnis: Asset Management
“As a recent graduate, the opportunity to apply the theories I have learned and translate them into tangible, professional skills was a highlight of my internship. I enjoyed helping underwrite deals and taking site visits to further understand what we deal with in Asset Management. I have been so blessed to be a part of such an amazing team and work toward an important mission of funding the PSF.”
Leila Gonzales: Surveying
"This experience is one you’ll never forget! It provided me with so much more knowledge and appreciation for surveying and the GLO. Everyone I have spoken to has only said good things about the GLO, and I 100% believe them. It’s an incredible work environment and I would recommend the GLO to anyone!"
Communications Interns Sophie Granger and Ellie Alford at the 25th Anniversary of the William R. Courtney Texas State Veterans Home in Temple
Sophie Granger: Communications
“The Comms Shop was incredibly supportive, showing me how enjoyable and meaningful it is to work with caring people at an equally caring agency. Combining my passion for people, writing, and media has led to tangible growth, both personally and professionally. The real-world experience I gained is undeniably valuable to my future, from learning how to use my creativity to adapt messages, to better understanding the role of government communications in public service. I am so grateful for my time with the GLO this summer!”
Zane Jacob: Information Technology Services (ITS)
“I appreciated being part of an agency with a meaningful mission: serving the people of Texas. I’ve loved getting to meet individuals across departments and build genuine connections with those who are passionate about making a difference. Sitting in on meetings with ITS, OIS, VLB, and others gave me a deeper appreciation for how every part of the agency contributes to that mission. What’s impacted me most is seeing how communication, collaboration, and a shared purpose can help create real, lasting impact.”
Oge Keshi: Construction Services
“I learned how to track project progress while monitoring timelines and budgets, as well as document and report jobsite conditions. The cross-department collaboration I experienced allowed me to work with roles different than my own, like project managers, maintenance coordinators, and staff officers. My team not only provided a welcoming and open place for me to learn, but trusted me with real responsibilities, giving me the space to develop professionally!”
Connor Menzer: ITS
“My summer with the GLO was valuable and rewarding. I had the opportunity to practice new and important skills in a very supportive environment. I learned how mineral leases work and how they generate money for the state, along with just how much data there is in the GLO system. I appreciated interacting with coworkers and fellow interns at the agency and growing in beneficial ways in unexpected areas.
Mercedes Morris: Archives
“One of the most meaningful aspects of my internship has been working directly with archival materials to support digital access. By scanning and preparing items for online use, I saw how behind-the-scenes tasks play a vital role in opening collections to a wider audience. I came into this internship already valuing the importance of access, but I now have a deeper awareness of the valuable time and labor that goes into it.”
Governmental Relations Interns Caleb White and Lucas Oliveira
Dawson Neidhammer: Finance
“My internship was awesome! Everyone was so welcoming and helpful. They answered all my questions while giving me the room to learn from hands-on experiences like database cleaning and projecting potential costs. Working in finance was impactful for my future career and set me up to become a successful data scientist or qualitative analyst. I enjoy working with numbers and this internship has continued to deepen that passion.”
Lucas Oliveira: Government Relations
“It has been rewarding to learn how the Government Relations department works with the community and local government, and I have greatly enjoyed seeing the process of event coordination within GR. I really appreciate that my work did not just stay within the office but had real life impacts on the state and its communities. The people I worked with made my internship experience even better and I am grateful for what they added to my learning experiences.”
Arielle Pham: Energy Resources
“Being from Houston, I've always been surrounded by the Oil and Gas industry, but this internship has given me firsthand experience of the processing, leasing, and auditing in energy. I have learned the steps of ensuring corporations' lease compliance for accurate measurements and payments to go towards the PSF. I completed a Risk Assessment to determine future companies to audit, and I enjoyed how hands-on, impactful, and technical my projects were. My favorite part of the internship was undoubtedly the people I've met! I loved conversing and connecting with the other interns and working alongside my team.”
Aidan Rerucha: Finance
“I enjoyed the learning opportunities Financial Management gave me. Everyone I worked with was helpful and open to answering my questions. Getting to learn about the reconciliation between CAPPS and the budgeting processes, from planning to timeline, was valuable. It was also interesting to hear about the other areas of the GLO in our weekly meetings and see what projects the different departments tackle in the agency.”
Lauren Tallman: HR
“I really appreciated how invested my coworkers and supervisors were in helping me experience what it is truly like to work in HR within state government. I have been included in meaningful meetings and projects and given the freedom to explore areas I am curious about. I especially enjoyed our intern cohort Fridays, where we heard presentations from each department to learn about what they do. This was a great way for me to get to know our agency and get excited about the work we are doing to support Texans.”
Office of General Counsel Interns Kennedy Childers, Hanna Judycki, and Michelle Vasquez
Kate Thomas: Archives
"In the Heritage department, I have learned so many new skills such as using various scanners and new software. I also had the opportunity to familiarize myself with Excel, a tool I will undoubtably use outside of this internship. I enjoyed learning how records are managed and the importance of digitizing them for not only agency use, but for public access. I have appreciated the understanding I gained through this internship in seeing how state agencies play important roles in people’s lives."
Luke Thomas: Coastal
“I learned that this agency does so much more than I initially thought; it was impactful working somewhere with a statewide reach. I enjoyed interacting with different departments and getting to see what they do. It was cool learning about the different areas of the Coastal Department, like how we’re involved with oil spills. I also had the chance to contribute to my department by finding an all-natural soap that removes tar ball residue from skin. My time here was educational, fun, and a good foundation for my career.”
Caleb White: Government Relations
“It has been rewarding to have our own projects to tackle, like organizing a beach cleanup in Galveston County. These projects have given me insight into how the GR department works and functions. It’s been interesting to see how a state agency implements legislation and government mandates, and how they conduct and handle business. I am thankful for the entire department of GR and the guidance that they have given me throughout my internship.”
Lydia Zonn: Energy Resources
“I had so much fun in my internship! I went in almost completely blind, not knowing much about energy resources, and left with a wealth of knowledge about oil and gas and an appreciation for the field. Everyone in my department was rooting for me throughout my internship and really supportive of everything I did. It was neat hearing people from different departments talk about what they do and why they love it. I just graduated in May and, with my experience at the GLO, feel well prepared for whatever comes next.”
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Dr. Dawn Buckingham made history in 2022, winning a statewide election to become Texas' first female Land Commissioner. As Land Commissioner, Dr. Dawn Buckingham is committed to helping Texans after a disaster, supporting Texas energy, ensuring that every child in Texas receives a high-quality public education, serving Texas Veterans, and securing the border to keep our communities safe.